Mistaken Identity (9 page)

When I finally finish and look up at the clock, it’s eleven after six. My heart sinks. I should have called him I know, but I was in such a frenzy to finish, I lost track of time. I guess when Jeff left that should have been my cue, but the silence of the building didn’t make it to my ears. I’ll just call him when I get out of the building and explain. He’s probably pissed and thinks I stood him up and never wants to see me again, but at least he will know the why in my actions. I close down everything, and make a mad dash to the elevator. Ever been in such a rush that you get behind that slow driver that refuses to drive the speed limit? Elevators are that slow driver. Freaking finally, the doors open but at the speed of a ninety year old. I squeeze through them before they open fully, and sprint through the lobby, past the guards, and toward the exit.

My feet become glued to the sidewalk when I finally push through the doors about tumbling me over. Tanner is leaning against his truck wearing jeans and a light blue plaid shirt with his large arms crossed over his chest. He doesn’t look pissed though, he looks compassionate, understanding, and he’s smiling.

“Tanner. I’m sorry. I was just about to call you. Adam threw everything at me today.” I say out of desperation.

“It’s fine.” His warm voice instantly relieves my despair. “I went to your apartment and your roommate told me you were still at work.” His eyes wander to my feet then back to my eyes.

I point to my un-dinner-date-attire. “Yeah, I’m sorry about this too.”

He pushes off the truck stepping toward me, “You hungry?”

“Starving.”

“Alright, let’s go.” His dimples display relieving all fear left inside of me. If he’s mad at me, he’s doing a damn good job hiding it.

Our dinner was simple, a nice mom and pop restaurant with country cooking to the finest extent. We laughed and cut up like we were teenagers again. His laugh is amazing, blazing his dimples, and sparking the gems in his eyes to light up. He stuck to his original words, and never brought up work, even after I explained again about Adam covering me up in work. He’s charming as hell, and he uses that to his advantage.

“Oh, shit, it’s ten already.” I check my watch surprised at how the time has gone to war on me but this time by moving too fast.

“And?” he arches his eyebrow.

“I have to get home. I have a very long day with zombie guy and I am so looking forward to it,” I twirl my finger in a circle exaggerating a party with a sarcastic grin. “And we still need to get to my car.”

“Zombie guy?” he questions.

“I’m training someone at work. Psycho zombie Jeff. He won an award for best horror film ever.” I joke. I can see the gears in his head are working and he’s deep in thought about something.

“Well, I’ll take you home and pick you back up in the morning.” He finishes his beer, placing it down on the table.

“You don’t have to do—”

“I know I don’t,” he interrupts, “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do, but I’ve kept you out this long, it’s the least I can do.”

Well, what the hell do you say to that?

He walks me to my door like always, leading me by the small of my back, my skin buzzing at his touch. “I’ll be here at seven forty-five.” He leans down placing a soft kiss that lingers for a moment on my cheek. The buzzing feeling has now spread all over and my breath halts at the unexpectedness of it. “There’s something about you, Samantha,” he whispers. “I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m content to venture until I do.” My chest pulls at me again. I know exactly what it is and it’s way too damn early to feel it. He pulls back slowly and smiles with his gorgeous gems, “Good night, Samantha.”

Chapter 14

I glance at the clock while sliding into my nude pumps, holding on to the breakfast bar for balance. He’ll be here any minute. I rush to the kitchen and pour my superpower into my designated work mug. I barely got any sleep. I was so anxious to see him this morning, when my alarm went off, I was already in the shower. With nothing else to do, I pace from the window to the counter struggling to fight the feeling of prom night waiting for my date. He’s about to see a side of me that, honestly, terrifies me. Mornings are not my strong suit.

He pulls up right on time, and before he can get out to greet me, I’m at his BMW getting in on my own.

“Good morning,” he says way too cheerful for morning.

“Morning,” I say dispirited and take a sip of my coffee.

He begins to laugh, “You’re not a morning person are you?”

I take another sip of my coffee glaring at him, “Not until the coffee stirs in my veins.”

He’s trying to contain his laughter by biting on his cheek. I roll my eyes at the pleasure he gets from my miserable mornings. He should be glad I think he’s cute and a good kisser or I would bite his head off and chew on it for a while.

As we pull into the parking lot and pass by my car, a white envelope sticking out from underneath my wiper catches my attention. “Stop, please,” I tell him.

He brings the car to a quick stop and I hop out with curiosity banging my door down.

My turn will come and I will make you mine.

Color drains from my face, and my brows pinch together. Noticing my concern, Tanner takes the note from my hand. “Who is this?”

“I don’t know.” Fear strikes my voice.

“Samantha, are you seeing someone else?” There’s anger in his voice and it hits my morning nerves all wrong.

I narrow my eyes at him, “No.” I answer sharply, pissed at his accusation. Wait…is he mad that I could be seeing someone else? This is new. I had no idea that he felt this way. Suddenly I feel bad for snapping at him. I take the note from him meeting his eyes with soft apology, “I’m not.”

He places his arm around my shoulder trying to comfort my nerves and hopefully accepting my silent apology. “It’s probably mistaken identity.”

I nod my head in agreement, hoping for it to be right, but something deep down says it’s not.

I plop down at my desk still shaken up from the letter. Before I can get situated, Jeff appears at my desk with something I think resembles a smile. His face is scrunched up, mouth wide, and teeth clamped together. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, and I’m sure it shows all over my face. “Mr. Blakelock left this for you this morning.” He hands me a folder containing information about a client he’s been working on.

“Thank you, Jeff.” It came out taut. I turn my attention back to my desk implying for him to get lost. Thankfully, he gets the hint and walks away. He should know by now that I hate mornings and if not, then he deserves his head to be ripped off.

I push through my morning routine and begin working on a few things when an uneasy feeling comes over me. My hair stands up on the back of my neck. I glance up and Jeff is staring at me from his makeshift desk…again!

“Can I help you?” I hiss.

He stares at me for a moment, probably contemplating eating my brains, then shakes his head no and drops it back down to his work. Freaking weirdo.

Adam has left my desk a total nightmare bombed with papers scattered everywhere, sticky-notes of meetings to add to his schedule, and reports to be typed. He impresses me being able to handle the many directions he’s pulled in. I hold my own with the things I have to do for him, but I don’t think I could handle his workload as effortlessly as he does.

I’m in deep concentration with a report when I let out a yelp startled by the sudden ringing of my phone. I’m slightly embarrassed when I answer.

“I wanted to call and check in on you. I know you were pretty shaken up this morning.” Tanner’s luscious voice helps calm my nerves.

I look up at Jeff thankful he didn’t take notice of my startle. “Hey. Yeah, I’m fine.” I whisper.

“You want to do lunch?”

“Lunch?”

He laughs. “Yes. That thing you do between breakfast and dinner. I’ve heard it’s the ‘in-thing’ to do so your stomach won’t gnaw on your backbone.”

I check the clock, “You have to be kidding me.”

“That busy, huh?”

“I swear I just got here. I’m sorry, I can’t today. From the looks of my desk, I might as well pack my things and move in.”

“I’ll let you get back to it then.” I hear the disappointment in his voice, and it hurts my feelings knowing I can’t go.

“Thank you for the offer.” I try stroking his ego.

“Bye, Samantha.” He basically sings my name before hanging up.

I’m smiling a big goofy smile when I set the receiver down. Sensations creep over me. I glance up to see Jeff watching me…again. My smile disappears giving way to a pissed off I rarely ever experience. I smack my hand down on my desk. “What can you possibly be staring at?” I snarl.

He doesn’t blink or flinch. “You’re acting different today.” He’s monotone. Emotionless.

“Might be because every time I look up
you
are boring holes in me. Do you think that might be it?” I’m louder than I should be but he doesn’t move. If my words bother him, there’s no way to tell. Guilt starts seeping its ugly head in. Sometimes I hate having a conscience. “I’m sorry, Jeff. I’m just swamped with work today and I’m taking it out on you.” I sigh raking my hands across my face.

“Apology accepted, Miss Beckman.” He moves his emotionless blank zombie stare back to the work before him like I’ve simply not said one mean word to him.

Six o’clock rolls around and finally I’m leaving the office. I held my cool for the rest of the day without any incidents that included holding crosses up at Jeff. He left at four, and when he did, I felt at ease and was able to concentrate on the work before me, pushing through it.

When I round the corner in the parking garage, I’m surprised to see Tanner’s truck parked beside my car. I thought he had his “special” parking spot. Suddenly, the door pops open and Tanner jumps out flashing his devastatingly sexy smile.

“Hi?” I’m confused at why he is here.

“I wanted to make sure you got home okay.” He answers, noticing my uncertainty.

“Very chivalrous.” I bat my eyes, teasing him.

“That’s me, the knight in shining armor,” he jokes back.

He follows me home after I won the argument of not wanting to rely on him in the morning for a ride. I could tell he was disappointed, but too many more of my coffee-less mornings, who knows how long he’ll stick around. Most mornings I can barely stand myself.

If I invite him in what could happen
, I think to myself walking up the steps to my apartment. The possibilities are endless. We could sit around and do nothing, or have him on top of me making his name moan out of my mouth. I shake my head at that idea. It’s too early in the “thing” we’re in. Maybe just an invite to be nice.

“Do you want to come inside?”

He smiles that sexy smile, “No, it’s late. You’re home safe. Mission complete.”

I giggle at how sweet his protectiveness is. It’s been a long while since I’ve had a man want to do that. I lean up on my tip toes, “You’re too sweet,” I whisper against the stubble on his cheek.

Jess left work early today not feeling well, so when I enter the apartment and it’s quiet, I know she’s in the bed. I pad quietly down the hall toward my bedroom careful not to make any noise when I hear the click of her door knob.

“Belle?” She yells out from her room.

Crap
. “Sorry, Boots. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She comes around the corner through the kitchen holding a white envelope. Something I’ve seen before. My heart rate begins to quicken as she hands it to me. “You had mail today.”

I stare at it, unsure I even care to open it or if it’s even a good idea. There’s no return address, the stamp is crooked, and my full name is typed neatly in the middle.

“Open it! Maybe you won a million dollars.” Poor Jess. Curiosity killed her cat years ago.

You will be mine.

On the verge of passing out, I drop down to the couch, pulling breaths in and out slowly, fighting the bright dots I see floating around me. Everything sounds muffled like someone has shoved cotton in my ears. I can see Jess moving her mouth, but nothing is coming out.

She grabs me by my shoulders, her green eyes wide, mouth wider. “Sam!” her voice pushes through the muteness, “Are you okay?”

I blink and shake my head, coming back to my senses. “Yeah, well, no. I don’t know,” I stammer, “I got another note on my car today. I think it’s a threat of some sort.”

“You think that asshole Logan has something to do with this?”

“At first it crossed my mind, but the note on my car said my turn will come soon. Logan had his turn, plus he’s left me alone for a while now.”

“Who else could it be?”

I shrug my shoulders. “The hell if I know.”

“Maybe it’s a secret admirer?”

She gets a laugh out of me with that. “Only you, Boots.”

“What?” She shrugs, “I’m opinionistic.”

“You mean optimistic?” I correct her.

She chuckles realizing her mistake. She can be airheaded sometimes, but only on a rare occasion and you have to catch her off guard. “Same thing. Either way it’s a good thing.”